Optometrists recognised at ophthalmology awards

Optometrists were among the winners at an awards event celebrating excellence in ophthalmology.

The Ophthalmology Honours winners were recognised during a ceremony held at BMA House, London earlier this month. The awards programme, now in its third year, facilitated by Bayer and supported by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and Visionary, recognises and celebrates the outstanding work being carried out by multi-disciplinary teams in ophthalmology throughout the UK. It also identifies initiatives that demonstrate clinical excellence and innovation in the area.

Optometrist and lead for childhood low vision and age-related macular degeneration at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Rasmeet Chadha (pictured), was awarded ‘Outstanding ophthalmology nurse or allied health professional’ at the event.

The award recognises allied health professionals and nurses within ophthalmic care who have demonstrate excellence in all aspects of their role while making an outstanding contribution to patient experience.

The judges said that Ms Chadha was “an impressive individual who is highly qualified, hard-working and a great person to have in the department.”

The award for ‘Best ophthalmology service improvement’ was won by Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust for its quality assurance of a multi-disciplinary team reviewing retinal virtual clinic assessments.

Praising the intravitreal service, which has welcomed hospital optometrists into the medial retina team, the judging panel concluded “the initiative could be and should be replicated across the country.”

The event was hosted by Dr Ed Coats, adventurer and consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Royal United Hospital, Bath.

Commenting on this year’s entries, Clare Bailey, consultant in ophthalmology at Bristol Eye Hospital and steering committee member said: “It is always inspiring to receive such a high standard and range of entries to the Ophthalmology Honours each year. The inclusion of the new ‘Best ophthalmology service improvement’ category for 2017 has really helped to broaden the scope of entries we’ve received this year. It’s fantastic to be involved in a programme that continues to recognise the excellent work taking place across the country in ophthalmology.”

The 2017 winners:

• Best Ophthalmology Team: The Ophthalmology Theatre & Seamless Surgery Team, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Best Patient Support or Education Initiative: St Paul’s Eye Unit’s ECLO: helping staff to help patients, St Paul’s Eye Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital
• Best Ophthalmology Service Improvement: Quality assurance of a multi-disciplinary team reviewing retinal virtual clinic assessments, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust
• Outstanding Ophthalmology Nurse: Adam Mapani, medical retina nurse consultant, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Outstanding Allied Health Professional: Optometrist and lead for childhood low vision and age-related macular degeneration at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Rasmeet Chadha
• Ophthalmology Unsung Hero – Individual: Marina Jones, senior medical retina secretary, Stanley Eye Unit, Abergele Hospital
• Ophthalmology Unsung Hero – Team: Ophthalmology Administration Co-ordinator Team, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
• Judges’ Special Award for Contribution to Service Improvement via Research: High quality clinical research using a collaborative team approach, Sunderland Eye Infirmary, City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.